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Fed Ex St. Jude Classic Fairway 5k and a PR

by Melanie Adams on April 13, 2013

This morning I ran my first timed 5k in 6 months. I don’t love the 5k distance. I much prefer longer distances. For me, running doesn’t usually become fun until around mile 5. Until then I’m still trying to find my groove. That’s why I haven’t done one in a while. However, I read something not long ago that said if you want to run a fast half in the fall, you need to be running fast 5ks now. So, hello, 5k! I’m back with the inaugural Fed Ex St. Jude Classic Fairway 5k.

Banner welcoming us to the event

Starting Line

The Fed Ex St. Jude Classic is a pro golf tournament that is part of the PGA tour. It’s held in June so I couldn’t make sense of why this race was 2 months before the tournament. Well, for one, part of the race was on the golf course. I’m sure they wouldn’t want 800 runners trampling through the course just days before the biggest golf tournament in Memphis. Also, from what I could tell, they were using the 5k to promote the golf tournament. We each got a ticket to the tournament in our race packets, and even the medal ribbon had the words, “Come Play” printed on it. I thought it was clever of them to use a 5k to promote a larger event.

This was a very fun race! I might even go so far as to say it’s my favorite local 5k. The course was absolutely gorgeous! The golf course itself is beautiful, and much of the race was through the residential area around the golf course. Those houses are HUGE! Running through a neighborhood full of multi-million dollar homes is how I’d like to start all my Saturdays. It was a fairly flat course, but there were just enough hills and dips to keep it interesting. I definitely felt like I had a workout, but didn’t feel like I was about to die.

The post race party was awesome, too! Of course they had beer and pizza.

Beer! Courtesy of Budweiser

Pizza from Dominos

Practically every race in Memphis does. However, they also had McAlister’s iced tea, Smoothie King smoothies, Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches and popsicles, all kinds of fruit, and get this–Bloody Marys!

McAlisters tea

Smoothies from Smoothie King

Blue Bell ice cream treats

Bananas, orange slices, and apples

Bloody Marys–my favorite post race offering ever!

They were THE BEST post race beverages EVER! They also had people handing out these fun foam visors and beads with a Fed Ex St. Jude Classic medallion on them.

Swag!

The awards were really cute, too. Instead of the traditional trophy, plaque, or medal, they awarded these “Hush” signs.

“Hush” sign awards–so cute!

If you’ve ever been to a golf tournament, you will recognize them as signs the crew holds to quiet the crowd as a golfer is about to make a shot. I thought that was really creative.

The finisher medal was really cool, too.

Finisher Medal

Most 5ks don’t give finisher’s medals, and when they do, they are nowhere near as nice as this one was. I was very impressed with the bling. The best part of the day, though, was that I got a PR. It’s always a good day when a PR is involved. This is a race I will definitely repeat in the future. I have a feeling it will be much bigger next year.

Having a great time at the Inaugural Fed Ex St. Jude Classic Fairway 5k

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2 responses to “Fed Ex St. Jude Classic Fairway 5k and a PR”

Nice recap. I did this race too and it was a good one!
I found your blog through another running blog I was reading. Imagine my surprise when I noticed the group of people I was at the 5k with standing behind you in the last photo 🙂